If you would like the complete, 2006 revised version of the CJE requirements, please download the pdf version of the Administrative Offices of the Courts General Policy (19 KB).

What is a CJE?
CJE stands for Continuing Judicial Education credits. One CJE is equal to one credit hour (60 minutes)of instruction time.  Instruction time may include:

• lecture
• panel discussion
• question-and-answer periods
• video or film

Credit is not given for speeches given at luncheons or banquets.

Am I required to earn CJEs?
You probably are especially if your position on the bench does not require you to be an attorney.  The chart below lists who is required to earn CJEs and the minimum number of CJEs required to remain on the bench.

Important!  Of the minimum requirements, at least one credit hour/CJE must be earned in Ethics and the Judicial Code of Conduct.

Earning CJEs
You can earn CJEs by:
Attending any of the following judicial education programs.

• Annual training program specific to your jurisdiction, such as the Magistrate Judges Conference or the DV Commissioners Seminar, conducted by JEC.
• National programs such as those offered at the National Judicial College.
• Other educational programs offered by public or private organizations if approved by the AOC or JEC.

Viewing recordings of:

• Annual training - Please note that annual trainings are required, thus you will need to follow the Excusal Procedures to be excused from a required annual training.
• New Judges Orientation – this is for judges newly appointed to the bench. You must view these recordings to be certified to sit on the bench.

Preparing and presenting educational programs in cooperation with JEC and AOC.

Reporting CJEs
You are responsible for submitting CJE reports to JEC for annual trainings and any other approved training that you attended.

You are also responsible for verifying that you have earned the minimum required credits for the year. If you attended or viewed your annual training, then you have probably satisfied the requirements.

JEC tracks and then reports credit hours to the AOC on or before December 31 of each year. The AOC then certifies whether or not you have completed your required hours of approved continuing education programs.

Failure to Satisfy CJE Annual Requirements
If you have not earned the required number of CJEs in a year, you will need to do the following.

1. You must submit to the AOC a specific plan for earning the missing credits that includes:
1. Name(s) and location(s) of approved educational programs
2. Number of credits that will be earned
3. Date(s) that credits will be earned
2. You must earn the missing credits within 90 days after the date your plan is approved.

Pro Tems Only: If you did not satisfy the requirements the previous year, then the AOC will no longer allow you to serve as a pro tem.

Excusal Procedures
You are required to attend the annual training specific to your jurisdiction. If you are unable to attend due to illness, physical disability, personal or family emergencies, or other unanticipated and unpreventable occurrences, then you will need to do the following.

1. Send a written request for excusal to the Chief Justice of the NM Supreme Court explaining the circumstances.
2. Once you receive the written excusal from the Chief Justice, please forward a copy of that excusal to Victoria Garcia at JEC. Fax number: 505.277.7064 or Email: vagarcia@unm.edu .
3. Following the annual training, JEC will send copies of the materials and recordings to you, as well as a CJE Self-Study form and a deadline for viewing the recordings and returning the CJE form back to JEC.